News Industry


Comment Manufacturers have seen a signif- icant rise in production levels in the three months to August, alongside markedly improved order books, according to the latest CBI monthly Industrial Trends Survey. While firms have seen their


There have been so many good news stories for manufacturing recently and it now looks as though we can finally see


the light as more positive predic- tions for the future are made. The CBI reports manufacturers


have seen output grow at its fastest rate for two years and along with PMI are expecting a even bigger surge for the latter half of the year. While the economy is still delicately poised, these are exciting times and I look forward to what the rest of the year brings. Heather Ramsden - Editor


Keep first aid in good health


First Aid legislation can be con- fusing and many organisations are failing to meet legal require- ments according to workplace equipment supplier Slingsby. Under The Health and Safety


(First-Aid) Regulations 1981 employers must provide ‘ade- quate and appropriate’ first-aid equipment, facilities and training so that anyone who has an acci- dent can receive immediate help. Lee Wright, at Slingsby, said:


“As health and safety has improved and accident rates have fallen across many indus- tries, lots of employers have relaxed their first aid procedures. “Every workplace has to


undertake a thorough assessment of first-aid needs on a regular basis and someone needs to be made responsible for first-aid. Typically, the appointed person will look after all first aid equip- ment and be responsible for call- ing the emergency services. The number of first aiders a business needs depends on things like the industry sector, the number of employees and any previous history of accidents.” Wright added: “Once a busi-


ness has everything in place it’s important to make all employees aware of the first aid procedures and notices should be displayed.” www.slingsby.com


Events


Northern Manufacturing 2-3 October, Event City, Manchester www.industrynorth.co.uk


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positive expectations met on output, they anticipate an even greater upturn in the coming three months, the highest expected output figure since March 2011. The survey of over 400 manu-


facturers found that total orders and export order books also rose sharply, with total orders at their highest since August 2011. Output volumes rose across a


Manufacturers’ output growth reaches two-year high


significant number of sectors, with 12 of the 16 sub-sectors reporting increases, and strong growth reported within some of the smaller sectors – building materials, metal manufacture and electrical goods. The CBI director of econom-


ics, Stephen Gifford, said: “Manufac turers have seen a real upturn in fortunes this quarter, as output grew at its fastest pace for two years. “Domestic and export orders


have rebounded almost across the board, and manufacturers expect this strength to continue during the next three months. “UK manufacturers seem to be experiencing a build-up in


Boost to online machinery sales


The UK online packaging sup- plier, Kite Packaging, has seen a significant increase in online machinery sales – an indication that rich media content has increased consumers’ confidence in purchasing high-value items online for business use. Machinery and systems that


improve the efficiency of the pick, pack and dispatch process such as strapping machines, carton sealing machines, pallet-wrap machines and shredders were previously only sold ‘face-to-face’ however a significant move to online pur- chasing has meant companies such as Kite have developed videos, images and detailed guides so that the customer can access machinery information at the touch of a button and make an informed decision. In addition, more and more businesses


see purchasing machines as a cap- ital investment, the expenditure initially paid out benefits the long- term aims of the business, particu- larly when the materials used within the machine can be found at a low cost – something Kite Packaging has done within its online operation, offering materi- als such as strapping and pallet wrap at the lowest price without compromising on quality. A spokesman for Kite


Packaging Online said: “As more companies sell online they are setting up more sophisticated packing operations, as well as e- commerce companies themselves there is also the wider supply chain – third party couriers, contractors and fulfilment agencies are all prepared to invest in machinery and sys- tems that make their business run better.” kitepackaging.co.uk


momentum, but risks in the global economy still mean that it won’t be plain-sailing for some time to come.” Key findings in the month to


August were: • 25 per cent of firms reported total order books were above normal and 26 per cent said they were below, giving a rounded balance of 0 per cent – the highest since August 2011; • The balance for export order books was the highest since June 2012; • Twelve of 16 sub-sectors report- ing rises, and strong growth; • Firms believe output will increase at an even faster pace in the next three months. www.cbi.org.uk


Edwards acquired by Atlas Copco


Atlas Copco AB and Edwards Group have entered into an agree- ment where Atlas Copco will acquire Edwards, a global supplier of vacuum and abatement solu- tions for an amount of up £1.04 Billion. The company is headquar- tered in the United Kingdom and listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York. “Edwards is a technology


leader with a well-developed structure and solid customer rela- tionships in industries we know well. It is a great fit for Atlas Copco,” said Ronnie Leten, presi- dent and CEO at Atlas Copco.” Edwards’ products and ser- vices are integral to manufactur- ing processes, such as for semiconductors and flat panel displays, and are used within an increasingly diverse range of industrial applications. www.atlascopco.com


Photography awards capture the spirit of manufacturing


Photographers of all levels and ages are being reminded to capture the spirit of British manufacturing in the prestigious EEF Made in Britain Photography Awards before the deadline of 30 September. Winners will share a prize fund of £5,000 worth of photographic equipment from lead sponsor Canon and attend an awards reception at the Houses of Parliament in December. The awards are free to enter in three cat- egories: professional, amateur, sponsored by Lombard, and young photographers (14-19), sponsored by The ERA


Foundation. For the first time, there is also a parallel competition for images taken with mobile devices. EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, is


seeking images of manufacturing that feature British products, components or processes. Subjects can range from tradi- tional to high-tech manufacturing and could portray any part of the journey in inventing, designing or making British products. Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of EEF,


said: “The technology and people involved in modern manufacturing are


colourful, eclectic and exciting. This is the chance for manufacturing companies to change the way people think about the industry and champion it as a leader of the economy by capturing its spirit.” The government's ‘Make it in Great


Britain’ campaign, which aims to chal- lenge common misconceptions of manu- facturing, is backing the awards. The Associate Parliamentary Manufacturing Group, is encouraging businesses that support the campaign to open their facil- ities to photographers wanting to enter. www.eef.org.uk/photo


SEPTEMBER 2013 Factory Equipment


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